Fall 2005 by Soulofvirginia

SUMMER ISSUE | VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2

Southwest Virginia’s {Music}Trail ROUTE 29 in Virginia VIRGINIA’S NEW CONVENTION CENTERS! HIGHLIGHTS FROM RICHMOND URBAN LEAGUE FRIDAY’S AT SUNSET plus

Randall Eley: From Law to Wall

FREE www.soulofvirginia.com

Virginia Beach Norfolk Hampton July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (August 5th) Mill Point Jazz Series Mill Point Park, Eaton Street in Downtown Hampton. Enjoy a diverse range of musical entertainment, from bop and swing to soul and New Orleans. Experience the cultures of jazz. Hours 5p.m.-9 p.m. every Friday in June and July. Admission varies. Some shows free. 757/727-1570. Sept. 16- Dec. 2005 “1954” Fifty Years After Brown vs. Board of Education This exhibition features a series of paintings created by noted artist Samella Lewis as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education. Large format works created speciﬁcally for the exhibition center around themes relating to African American education. In addition, the exhibition includes a CD and grafﬁti-style written statements that combined with the paintings form three-dimensional interactive work. Hampton University Museum. 757/727-5308.

July 6, 13, 20, 27 Chrysler Jazz Series The Chrysler Museum is free (by voluntary contribution) on Wednesdays in July and open late with live jazz from 6:158:45 pm.: July 6th: Grace Street; 13th: Pamela Hines; 20th: Against All Odds; 27th: Jimmy Masters. www.chrysler.org Aug 20 5th Annual Cingular Latino Festival The Latino Festival will feature authentic foods, leading recording artists and the largest outdoor dance floor in Hampton Roads. Professional dance instructions offered in Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and Cumbia music. Free. 4 p.m. - 11 p.m., Town Point Park, Waterside Drive. 757/441-2345. www.festevents.org Sep 9 - 11 Norfolk Seafood Sampler Grab your family and friends and head to Town Point Park for crab pickin’, oyster shuckin’, shrimp boilin’, fish fryin’, cold beer drinkin’, workboat racin’, fish cleanin’ good time down by the river. Free.Town Point Park, Waterside Drive. 757-441-2345, www.festeventsva.org.

June 20 - Sept. 3 Beach Street USA Mardis Gras comes to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Beachstreet USA is comprised of a diverse array of street performers along the sidewalks of Atlantic Avenue from 17th to 25th Street, 8-11:30 p.m. Puppets, bands, jugglers, magicians, and more. Children welcome. Live concerts and theatrical productions take place seven nights a week from 6-10:00 p.m. 17th to 25th Street along Atlantic Avenue. 757/491-786.

SUMMER 2005 Volume 2 Issue 2 PUBLISHER Kent Ruﬃn

EDITOR Rebekah L. Pierce A RT DIRECTOR Jason Andrews Ink & Paper Design

PHOTOGRAPHER Julie Salamone

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Stacy Brooks

Sharon Randall

Melissa Canaday

Kenrya Rankin

Sharon Riddick Hoggard

Bruce Twyman

Kerry Hook

Aaron Smith

Mamie Moore

Arlene Williams

A DDRESS CORRESPONDANCE TO EDITOR P.O. Box 12171 Richmond, VA 23241-0171 Toll Free: 1-866-SOUL OF VA or 1-866-768-5638 or visit on the web at www.soulofvirginia.com

Soul of Virginia is published bimonthly by Soul of Virginia, Inc., 2004 All rights reserved under International and Pan-American copyright conventions. Reproduction in whole or in-part without the written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Soul of Virginia is printed in the United States of America. Editorial and advertising offices are at 1706 Floyd Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220. The magazine is given away free by advertisers and at selected locations statewide. A one year subscription is $24 for six issues and access to an electronic version of the magazine. For new subscriptions, renewals or change of address, write to Subscription Dept., P.O. Box 12171, Richmond, VA 23241-0171, call 1-866-SOUL OF VA or 1866-768-5638, or send an e-mail to subscription@soulofvirginia.com. Soul of Virginia, Inc. may share its mailing list with select organizations. Please notify the Subscription Department if you want your name removed from the magazine’s mailing list. For information about submitting editorial queries or photographs, please see our website, www. soulofvirginia.com. Articles and essays published in Soul of Virginia are works of journalism and not the official policy of Soul of Virginia, Inc. Articles about products do not constitute endorsments by Soul of Virginia, Inc., and publisher assumes no responsibility for the content of advertisements. Advertising rates are provided on request from the advertising office. This publication, pledged to the letter and spirit of equal housing opportunity, will not knowingly accept any real estate advertising in violation of U.S. equal opportunity law. website: www.soulofvirginia.com

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

PU BL ISH E R’S NOT E

SUMMER 2005

Virginia: Past, Present and Future!

ecent events are reminders that the past, though far-gone, left hard to heal wounds and discontent. In spite of these factors, none should argue the presence of progress. We welcome and celebrate diﬀerences by adhering to the basic tenets of our founding fathers … we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men [and to be absolutely inclusive, now, all people] are created equal. Yet, are we truly equal? It took years for Congress to pass an anti-lynching bill, though, according to Tuskegee University records, from 1882 to 1968, more than 3,446 AfricanAmericans fell victim to this form of sanctioned mob violence. Many fatalities were right here, in our home state. For example, in Alexandria, Joseph McCoy, was hung from a lamppost at Cameron and Lee Streets on April 23, 1897, So for all the Joseph McCoys of Virginia, of our nation, and their families, the bill’s co-sponsors, Senators George Allen (R-VA) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA),

made right years of political wrongs supporting a prevailing view that all of us are not equal. The moment of the bill’s signing was signiﬁcant and inspiring. If the signing of the anti-lynching bill was inspiring, the abundance of media messages surrounding the Michael Jackson child molestation trial resembled a circus-like atmosphere of public scorn and ridicule, without unquestionable evidence. Some opined the scenario had the likings of a modern day lynching. Gone, but not forgotten, could this be vestiges of the past that fester in the present? Although we, as a nation, have sown seeds of progress, the presence of underlying and unresolved racial issues and behaviors cannot be ignored. The media, as purveyors and creators of public opinion, can serve vital purpose by practicing authenticity and fairness with respect to messages, particularly relevant to people of color. You can trust and expect Soul of Virginia to adhere

DEPARTMENTS to balance. We are more than a place to turn for your multicultural travel and tourism needs. We are that voice that gives way, editorially, to conscience. Conscience is more than a moral judgment; exercising it builds a strong economy by giving diverse consumers reasons to come to Virginia for business, pleasure, and to make it their home. Recently, the Virginia Tourism Corporation made Soul of Virginia magazine its multicultural fulﬁllment piece. This partnership increases the circulation from 50,000 to 75,000. Also, if you haven’t done so lately, please visit our website: www.soulofvirginia.com. Soon, you will be able to research back issues of the magazine and enjoy the introduction of a special online feature: the opportunity to purchase unique creations by artisans from throughout the Diaspora. Books and music by writers of color will also be available. Your satisfaction is our satisfaction. Let us know your thoughts. Please send a letter or email to publisher@soulofvirginia.com. Together, we can make a diﬀerence by not repeating the actions of the past but by learning from them.

VIRGINIA NEWS

My Land, My People 6 By Melissa Canaday

Highlights from the Richmond Urban League By Melissa Canaday

Woman of Passion By Sharon Randall

A Clear Path to Investing By Stacy Brooks

Contents SUMMER 2005 Volume 2 Issue 2

Mama Used to Say 14 By Aaron Smith

Craig Littlepage 14 By Bruce Twyman

FEATURES

Crooked Road: Southwest Virginia’s Music Trail

Fridays at Sunset

Route 29: The Vital Connection to all of Virginia

Virginia’s New Convention Centers

By Kenrya Rankin

By Mamie Moore

By Sharon Riddick Hoggard LITERARY

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

The Sandwich Generation: A Bittersweet Burden By Kerry Hook

SPOTLIGHT Interview with Ashby Anderson By Arlene Williams

OP-ED Dominion’s Powerhouse: Craig Ivey By Arlene Williams

BACK PAGE Randall Eley: From Law to Wall By Stacy Brooks

cover photo: Meadows of Dan Meadows Music Dulcimer, photographed by Jeff Greenburg, courtesy of VTC

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MY LAND, MY PEOPLE

My Land, My People

…Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hillside, every valley, every plain and grove, has been hallowed by some sad or happy event in days long vanished. The very dust upon which you now stand responds more lovingly to their footsteps than to yours, because it is rich with the blood of our ancestors and our bare feet are conscious of the sympathetic touch…At night when the streets of your cities and villages are silent and you think them deserted, they will throng with the returning hosts that once ﬁlled and still love this beautiful land. The White Man will never be alone. Let him be just and deal kindly with my people, for the dead are not powerless. Dead, did I say? There is no death, only a change of worlds.

The modern world is just now beginning to identify its failure to show adequate concern for the planet and its inhabitants as a major factor in our present ecological crisis. 6

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

Thank you for giving us another reason to be proud to call Richmond home.

At Capital One, we recognize and embrace

— Chief Seattle, on signing the Treaty of Medicine Creek in 1854

the importance of community. We have always believed that, as business and community

Whether it is the destruction of wetlands, clear cutting trees, mountain top removal or a plethora of other activities, the fragmented view of man having dominion over the earth and the creatures upon it is incomprehensible. The relationships that serve to form the unity of nature are vastly more important. Our people are confronted with a bountiful earth in which all things and experiences have a role to play. There is a kinship between animals, birds, reptiles, and human beings. In the same manner the Plains Indians considered the buffalo as a distinct people, the Northwest Coast Indians regarded the salmon as a people, and even today, the Tribes of Virginia oppose a reservoir to save the waterway of the shad and the land of their ancestors. The task is to determine the proper relationship that people must have with other living things and to develop the self-discipline within so that man acts harmoniously with all our relatives. The world that is experienced is dominated by the presence of power, the

manifestation of life energies, and the whole life-ﬂow of creation. Recognition that human beings hold an important place in such a creation should be tempered by the thought that they are dependent on everything in creation for their existence. The awareness of the meaning of life comes from observing how the various living things appear to mesh to provide a whole tapestry. Each form of life has its own purposes, and there is no form of life that does not have a unique quality to its existence. To exist in creation means that living is more than tolerance for other life forms; it is recognition that in diﬀerences there is the strength of creation and this strength is a deliberate desire of the Creator. Melissa Canaday also wrote Honoring the Community in the Spring 2005 Issue of Soul of Virginia.

VIRGINIA NEWS

leaders, we have a unique opportunity to

Illustration by Jason Andrews

A Proud Supporter of The Urban League of Virginia.

By Melissa Canaday

he idea of identity and continuity of life lay behind tribal approach to the predominate culture. It could be said that it is to be a more fundamental reason than any other for an indigenous people’s resistance to invasion of tribal lands a century ago and today. This knowledge of land as holding the body of the tribe in a basic sense testiﬁes to the underlying unity of Native people’s concept of the universe as a life system in which everything has its part. Life is a continuing unity involving land and people. We are faced with an ordered and purposeful creation that aﬃrms life’s reality. Man does not have domination over the earth. Creation is not a mere object. The phrase “all my relatives” is frequently invoked by Native people to include all forms of life and the earth.

aﬀect meaningful and positive change in the communities in which our associates and customers work and live. Our associates are passionate advocates of this philosophy. With their support and our mutual commitment, the importance of community is part of the fabric of the Capital One culture. Together, we can help build strong communities that provide a healthy, safe and nurturing environment for everyone.

creating opportunities

To learn more, visit www.capitalone.com. Capital One is proud to support the Urban League of Greater Richmond.

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Richmond Urban League Event Shows Partnering Spirit By Melissa Canaday

Former NFL Star and Corporate Leaders Among Luminaries Supporting League’s 91st Anniversary Banquet and Scholarship Beneﬁt

During his keynote address to the Urban League of Greater Richmond’s banquet attendees, Mr. Fugett imparted his thoughts on success and why making a social diﬀerence is important, particularly in what is now an even more complex and interdependent global community. Mr. Fugett also spent time during his Richmond stay visiting Fairﬁeld Elementary School and Children’s Hospital of Richmond.

ay 27, 2005. Richmond, Virginia --- The Urban League of Greater Richmond’s 91st Annual Banquet and Scholarship Benefit took place on May 27, 2005 at the Richmond Marriott Hotel. The annual gala celebrates student excellence and the dedicated professionals who devote their lives to community service. It is an opportunity for the Urban League to thank community leaders, members, staff, and affiliates as well as other supporters and friends such as premiere sponsors Capital One, Phillip Morris and Dominion. The scholarship award ceremony was not the only element of the gala to produce excitement. Mistress of Ceremony, Cheryl Miller, Co-Anchor, WTVR-TV 6, began the evening with a greeting brought by the Honorable Benjamin J. Lambert, III, Senator, 9th District for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Lifetime Achievement award honors went to L. Douglas Wilder, James Ukrop and Robert Ukrop. Corporate Community Service Awards were presented to Comcast Cable, HBO, Optima Health Care and Universal Ford. A video telling the Urban League of Greater Richmond’s story through the words of clients whose lives were empowered and changed was sponsored by AD Results. Chief Executive Officer of AD Results, Wanda Lewis Goodridge, was Honorary Co-Chair of the event. Debbye Mahan, Urban League Board member and Honorary Co-Chair, stated, “These stories showed that, although the year 1913 seems in our distant past, the 8

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

But his achievements go well beyond academia and sports. Jean exhibited considerable ﬁnancial acumen as Director and Vice Chairman of the McCall Pattern Company management committee; he’s a founding partner of a Baltimore law ﬁrm; partner with Fanfone in Europe; and in 1993, Jean took over TLC Beatrice International Foods. TLC Beatrice International Foods was the largest black-owned and black-managed business in the U.S. with $2.2 billion in sales.

Essence Band & Show provided the Urban League of Greater Richmond Guild with a silent auction and performed music. Melissa Canaday is a freelance writer based in New Kent County, Virginia.

Urban League of Greater Richmond’s role as the voice for Richmond’s underserved is as vital today as the year of its founding.” For the youth, the elderly, the unemployed, the dispossessed, the collective energy of Urban League staff, volunteers, and financial supporters makes a critical difference in Greater Richmond in the areas of education, economics, health, civic engagement and civil rights. Signature sponsors met with Jean S. Fugett, Jr., Esq., the keynote speaker, during the President’s VIP reception, prior to the dinner. Jean S. Fugett, Jr., Esq., knows the road to achieving wealth while maintaining a social consciousness is not without challenges. Mr. Fugett is an Amherst graduate and attended Washington University where he received his law degree while playing professional football. Jean is a retired tight end. He played for the Washington Redskins, 1976-1979, and the Dallas Cowboys, 1972-1975. He was also a Washington Post reporter and a television sportscaster during his NFL career.

FROM OPPOSITE PAGE (L to R): Mayor L. Douglas Wilder and RUL President Thomas Victory; Ken Dye of Comcast Cable; The Honorable Benjamin J. Lambert, III; Scholarship recipients; Harry Harris of Universal Ford ; Debbye Mahan, Thomas Victory and Janice Williams. Keynote speaker, Jean S. Fugett, Jr. Esq.; Fugett and Melissa Canaday; attendees with Fugett; Robert Ukrop with Mrs. Ukrop(left) and Debbye Mahan.

BREAKING GROUND

LOCAL

Richmond Urban League Event Shows Partnering Spirit

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C OU N T Y

A Woman of Passion

By Sharon Randall

o say that Emily Fraser James is excited about teaching early 18th-century colonial history is an understatement. Emily has been a historical interpreter at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation for eighteen years and has never lost her passion for educating people about Colonial America. Emily wants to be instrumental in helping people understand the principles that influenced that period and helped shape our nation. Ideally, she would also like for all people, not only Americans, to make connections between the struggles and challenges confronted during the early 18thcentury colonial period and what we face today. I’ve observed Emily’s interpretations many times through the years, and on every occasion, I’ve watched her masterfully engage and educate Colonial Williamsburg guests. While Emily is interested in early 18th-century history, she also has a special interest in the Black experience because of her Jamaican roots. I recently sat down with Emily and asked her several questions concerning her interest in history and interpreting at Colonial Williamsburg. This information could be the framework for developing a profile for identifying and attracting minorities to apply for interpreter positions at Colonial Williamsburg. Emily, I know you are a Jamaican native. What brought you to Williamsburg, Virginia—specifically, Colonial Williamsburg? My husband Greg, who was a friend at the time, brought me a Colonial Williamsburg job posting. Colonial Williamsburg was looking for someone to portray a character named Nannie, a known slave woman in the Benjamin Powell inventory. I’ve always had an interest in history and did well in drama during my school years, so I decided to apply. I also was interested because the character reminded me of Nanny of the Maroons, the 18th-century Jamaican freedom fighter. Tell me about your interest in history. How has it developed over the years and who are some of the people who influenced you? When I attended third grade English school, the only blacks I heard about were fictional characters like Sambo and Bambo. There was a stigma associated with being black because we were depicted either as the lesser sort or as savages. I knew there had to be something more positive. Since I’ve always loved to read, I went to the school library and found numerous books with information on the contributions of blacks. When I read about abolitionists such as Marcus Garvey, Paul Bogle and Samuel Sharpe, my belief that we are a people of much more substance was validated. My mother was the first person 10

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to influence my interest in history. She set the standard for strength, pride and self-reliance. My parents owned a lot of land and I watched my mother work the land beside my father. They grew and shipped bananas to England and manufactured and sold ice cream locally. I became so consumed with learning about the world around me that when my mother went to the fish market, I would read the newspaper in which the fish was wrapped.

Of the characters you’ve portrayed, do you have a favorite?

More recently, Tavis Smiley and Oprah Winfrey have inﬂuenced me. I admire Tavis because of his dedication to black culture and self-preservation, and Oprah because of her willingness to talk openly about her struggle to become who she is today.

I educate by interpreting the nature of our world to diverse audiences as well as by asking and answering epistemological and ontological questions in our own voices and our own terms. In my opinion, telling our story in our own voice is the single most important factor for the survival of the African-British West Indian and the African-American culture. I am honored to tell a story that neither slaves nor free blacks—“neither ﬁsh nor fowl”*—were able to tell. Other races have been through tribulation and their stories have been told, but no other race has gone through anything as serious and degrading as the institution of slavery that still touches our lives today.

What aspects of history are you most passionate about and why? Early 18th-century history is my passion. As a black woman, I am amazed when I think about the atrocities we survived and the low suicide rate despite them. I try to use the strength of black women during the colonial period as an example of how I live my life. For instance, when I lost my daughter in a car accident, I thought about black women during that period who had their children snatched from them and tried to focus on how they survived. It helps. Given your Jamaican background, how did your interest in the African-American experience evolve? I’ve always been intrigued by the various shades (skin tones) of blacks. The early colonial experience explains how the cultures are intertwined as well as the history of miscegenation. The diﬀerent shades and hues represent the complexity of who we really are even today.

“Our young black generation

needs to study their culture and the contributions our ancestors made to medicine, military, and the legacy of freedom we so often take for granted.” I know you also “interpret” by portraying a person of the past. Name some of the characters you’ve portrayed. Nanny, slave woman in Benjamin Powell inventory; Belinda, a scullery maid at Wetherburn’s Tavern; Nanny, Governor Fauquier’s estate (Geddy House); Beck, cook at the mayor’s house (Everard House); Rose, George Wythe inventory; slave Mary, on trial for murder at the Court House; Flora, conjurer and healer at the Raleigh Tavern; Sarah, Robert Carter inventory; Nanny Burwell, Carter’s Grove inventory; Great Aggie, Mrs. Randolph’s dowry slave; Fanny, Mother Wit Program; and Kate, Christmas Box Program. I’ve also developed characters for educational outreach based on limited documentation at a particular site. BREAKING GROUND

No, because each of them tells a story. My objective is to bring purpose and dignity to their lives. I spend time with each character prior to portraying them. Some people would question your reasoning in deciding to portray a slave character. How do you educate the public when interpreting in this role?

What aspects of your current job do you most enjoy? I really enjoy interpretation. I love having the ability to make connections between the past and the present. I also enjoy creating and participating in what I create. If the interpretation (character) is first person, you have the opportunity to orchestrate who the character becomes. Every time I interpret, I want to touch everyone—not to evoke a weeping frenzy, but to inspire, to change previous thinking, or encourage someone to read a book to confirm or refute what they have heard. Why do you think it’s important to educate people about the 18th-century colonial period? When you understand your history, you are better able to assess any situation. I believe that, when accurately researched, developed and presented, the life stories of African-Americans create a foundation upon which each of us constructs our sense of reality, and a filter for processing events that confront us in every day life. This particular time period is especially key for the younger generation. Young people should reduce the amount of time spent playing video games and use this time to read a book. Our young black generation needs to study their culture and the contributions our ancestors made to medicine, military, and the legacy of freedom we so often take for granted.

visit www.soulofvirginia.com

What’s the most important message you would like to convey about the African-American experience? Just as we are a myriad of skin tones, we as blacks have made numerous contributions to the building of our nation. The values we cherish and wish to preserve, the behaviors we wish to censure, the fears and dread that we can barely confess in ordinary language, the aspirations and goals that we prize most dearly—all these things must be encoded in the life stories of the African culture and the people I represent. * “Neither ﬁsh nor fowl” – term used to explain that, while some blacks were considered free, the laws were structured to control all blacks, regardless of status. Sharon Randall is a freelance writer based in Newport News, Virginia.

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A Woman of Passion

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S TAT E

FINDING A CLEAR PATH TO INVESTING

CENTRAL VIRGINIA

NAIC Central Virginia Chapter P.O. Box 70576 Richmond, VA 23255 804-746-9300

By Stacy Brooks

Real Estate, CD’s, Stocks, Bonds, oh my! Investing is on everyone’s minds, as Americans are searching for new alternatives to ordinary savings plans and retirement programs. We yearn to be safe, secure and able to provide for our families long after we are gone.

oday, there are many options to diversifying portfolios, and for newcomers to investing, there is information out there.

Real estate, stocks and bonds are just a few of the options out there for investing. But with so much information out there, and just as many diﬀerent opinions on what you should be doing with your money, where on earth do you begin? Virginia has many resources available to help individuals and institutions ﬁnd the best investment strategies for them. From Hampton Roads to Northern Virginia, and everywhere in between, investment clubs and 12

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NOVA Cash Flow Tyson’s Corner, VA www.novacashﬂow.com

Mid-Atlantic Investors Network – REIA P.O. Box 361 Richmond, VA 23235 804-272-6433 HAMPTON ROADS membership organizations are available to help guide individuals to a comfortable and even lucrative retirement. Those looking for a good option to diversify their portfolios, often go the route of real estate investing. This is a great way to diversify your portfolio. Real estate investment trusts, or REITs, can be an alternative way to profit without direct property acquisition. Virginia real estate clubs are located throughout the state. Everything from free investing books, investing terms and information, and relevant news articles can be found at www. reiclub.com. For a more broad range of investing information, support and resources, the National Association of Investors Corporation has chapters throughout the state. They are an independent, non-profit, member-driven organization that teaches its members and the community how to become successful long-term investors. Through their participation, members are able to learn important investing principles and tools, enabling them to have a firm grip on their financial future. Association information can be found at www.better-investing.org. In Virginia, the National Association of Investors Corporation has chapters in Northern Virginia (D.C. Region) Hampton Roads, and Central Virginia. Each chapter offers a broad range of activities including community workshops, investment clubs, and information on how to start an investment club,

conferences, and classes on stocks and portfolio repair. Their investment clubs oﬀer social networking and educational opportunities. They also provide practical experience among members. Whether you are an experienced investor with all of the information you need on stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate investment options, or just beginning, there are helpful resources available.

Tidewater Real Estate Investor Group (TRIG) 2017 Cunningham Dr., Ste. 106 Hampton, VA 23666 757-825-8759 Virginia Beach Real Estate Investors Group

NAIC Washington DC Regional Chapter D.C. Regional Chapter - NAIC P.O. Box 5457 Arlington, VA 22205-5457 www.naicdc.org

Virginia Real Estate Investors Association 5007-C Victory Blvd., #118 Yorktown, VA 23693 757-988-3119

4100 Virginia Beach Blvd. Virginia Beach, VA 757-463-9890

Additional resources on the web: www.about.com (search ‘investing’)

www.moneycentral.msn.com/investor/home.asp

National Association of Real Estate Investors P.O. Box 1150 Annandale, VA 22003 703-642-1643

“

”

G N I T S F E O V N I ’s C B A

NAIC Hampton Roads Regional Chapter P.O. Box 5757 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 757-498-2749

NORTHERN VIRGINIA RESOURCES

Capital Area REIA (Real Estate Investment Club) Falls Church, VA 703-864-6500 www.capitalareareia.com

—with so much information out there, and just as many diﬀerent opinions on what you should be doing with your money, where on earth do you begin?

www.wsj.com

Stacy Brooks is a freelance writer based in Alexandria, Virginia.

you should Important words and terms of: ing an know the me

Stock

A piece of equity in a compan

Bond

An instrument of debt issued

by a company for more than one

year.

by a bank when bond-type investment issued A Certiﬁcate of Deposit is a a determined for ey mon s a certain amount of a person or company deposit is paid to the rest inte and s, year can be up to ﬁve amount of time. The maturity holder of the CD.

Dividend

that is paid out to A portion of a company’s earnings or annual basis.

shareholders on a quarterly

losses, and assets ip in a “share” of the proﬁts, A share is an investor’s ownersh of a company.

Earnings per Share

of The amount of proﬁt each share

a company is entitled to.

IPO

sells stock in itself g. An IPO is when a company Short for Initial Public Oﬀerin for the ﬁrst time.

Market Cap

e to pay if you unt of money you would hav Market Capitalization is the amo a company. bought every share of stock in

Illustration by Jason Andrews BREAKING GROUND

STATE

Finding a Clear Path to Investing

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Mama Used to Say

UVA Athletic Director

Craig Littlepage

By Aaron Smith

Parents today often reﬂect on their lives as children and the conversations with mom, aunts, and grandmother. They often talked in riddles, but always gave us something to chew on. Yet, looking back, sometimes the catch phrases or ideas about economic growth were always misleading or not even discussed.

Momma used to say, “ go to school and receive good grades so you can go to college and get a good job.” But guess what? While you were working hard maintaining the grades and staying out of trouble, Mama wasn’t putting anything away to assist in paying for that college education. Mama used to say, “When I die, I want to be buried in my best Sunday dress, a nice cherry oak casket and lots and lots of flowers, and I want Sister Bessie to sing my favorite hymn.” But mama didn’t tell you that she didn’t have any life insurance, and so when that time came, you had to get the family together to pass the hat around to make sure she at least received a few of the things she wanted. Mama used to say, “family need to stick together in good and bad times.” Well, that usually meant that someone was in a bind and needed some money. Saving during the good times was never discussed. Mama also said, “storms don’t last always,” and now, here we are, in the 21st Century: the age of information and technology. We have televison shows, magazines, books, seminars, and financial planners now available to educate everyone on the do’s and don’ts of financial planning. But how many of us are still operating under the influences of “Mama said?” I applaud the parents of yesterday and today who have taken the necessary steps to prepare their children in establishing a well organized financial plan. However, in my day-to-day dealings with people who need financial planning. I still see too many who have not taken the appropriate steps to prepare for today and the future. But as Mama used to say, “everybody is not going to get it at the same time.” So, I will continue to teach and make myself available for mama’s children. Aaron Smith A.W. Smith Financial Group Aaron is founder and president of A. W. Smith Financial Group, Inc., a comprehensive financial planning firm based in Richmond, Virginia. Aaron provides financial planning services to a wide range of individual and business clients.

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

By BruceTwyman Articulate. Knowledgeable. Business-like. Passionate. Adjectives that come immediately to mind after meeting the ninth athletic director in the history of the University of Virginia. He assumed his current post in 2001. He is Craig Littlepage. African-American.

he last statement alone sets him apart from most in the business of running multi-million dollar collegiate athletic departments. He is one of only five African-Americans in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I grouping who has risen to the level of athletic director. Littlepage heads an enterprise at Mr. Jefferson’s university that covers 25 sports and has 170 full-time staff with an overall budget of $40 million. The program operates in the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference; it is decidedly big time. Littlepage gained additional national exposure for himself and Virginia earlier this year when selected to serve as the chairman of the NCAA National Men’s Basketball Tournament Selection Committee. He now heads the very select group of people who help decide which schools get to participate in college basketball’s biggest event. If you know nothing about college basketball, this fact alone will tell you how big a deal this tournament, which starts in early March each year, and the selection group are to the college basketball landscape. For example, in 2002, CBS paid the NCAA $611 billion for the rights to televise the tournament for a six-year run. The association with the national basketball tournament has Littlepage on the rise among collegiate athletic directors.

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How did this man beat the odds to get to the top of the collegiate athletic mountain? It starts for him in the late 60s when he was recruited as a high school basketball player out of Pennsylvania by former Virginia coach Terry Holland, who at the time was working for Davidson College in North Carolina. Today, Holland is the athletic director for East Carolina University, but he holds sharp images of Craig Littlepage. “I was impressed with Craig from the start,” said Holland. “He was an excellent all-around player in high school with good instincts and he understood what it took to win from a team standpoint. I feel this is what made him an excellent coach after his playing career was over.” Littlepage was Holland’s number one choice to join his staﬀ at the University of Virginia in 1976 and was instrumental in helping the school build its program to one of national recognition. With Littlepage as his top recruiter of high school talent, the program took oﬀ in the late 70s with the signing of the schoolboy star every program wanted, Harrisonburg’s Ralph Sampson, who became a consensus All-American during his playing days at the University of Virginia. (continued on page 27)

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SPECI A L FE AT U R E SEC T ION

AVERAGE GIRL THE MAGAZINE

SPECI A L FE AT U R E SEC T ION

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Good Life

The Dear Reader:

W Contents HEALTH & WELLNESS The Good Life By Susie Galvez

WOMEN & FINANCE Money Wise, Financially Fit and Sexy By Sharon Stuart

INSPIRATION CORNER Purpose: Seventy-Five Percent of the Battle By Ralph Williams

WOMEN & THE LAW Equitable Distribution By Cynthia Pasciuto

Rebekah L. Pierce, Publisher/Editor in Chief

www.averagegirlmagazine.com

AG 1

e are awesome! No! We are better than that. We are SUPER WOMEN! Each and everyday, we tackle the injustices of the work place, the near territorial takeovers at home, and the ever present death by chocolate bake sales at the church. Somebody has to raise money for the new church nursery. Man! It’s no wonder we are tired and depleted of any extra energy at the end of the day. When do we get to take time out for ourselves? When was the last time you spent the day at a spa retreat (even if it was in your own bathroom)? Or picked up a good book and read it from front to back? Never, you say! Well, therein lies the problem. Dear Reader! We are not SUPERWOMAN! We are human beings trying to find our purpose in life. We are dying every day because we did not take time out to care for ourselves spiritually, emotionally, physically and financially. Did you know that heart disease is the #1 killer of women? According to the National Cancer Institute, the risk of developing cervical cancer increases with age, especially in women past their childbearing years (Facts About…, 11/91). I hear warning bells going off right now. Do you? So let’s talk about what it means to be a woman of great multi-tasking skills in today’s society: let’s talk about living a purpose driven life. In “Superwoman! Stop Killing Yourself to Live,” Ralph Williams poignantly reminds us that we need to slow down and take care of ourselves. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. In her column, Relaxation Station, the queen of relaxation, Paula Quick, talks frankly about her lapse into the superwoman syndrome. She has found that taking on too much has cost her something: her sense of purpose. Check out “Shaken and Stirred: The Intimate Confessions of a Self-Proclaimed “Superwoman”.” We’ve also added a new feature section this month called Women & the Law. There is so much out there that women need to know about in order to make informed decisions about healthcare, life insurance, legal issues, and such. Did you know, for example, that if you are in the middle of a divorce, your spouse cannot remove you from the car insurance policy without your permission? That’s the law in Virginia. What about where you live? Read Darlene Casanova’s fascinating report on, “What You Should Know About Car Insurance.” I want to leave you with this, Dear Reader: “So some little girl can know your recipe for survival. Somewhere in the streets there is someone dying because she does not know that it is possible to survive what you have already endured. You are a precious commodity. You are the cure to her crisis” (Woman Thou Art Loosed, pg. 1237). Let’s get it together, ladies. Time is of the essence. If we are going to claim ourselves to be super-women, then let’s do it the right way. Eat right. Exercise. Pray or meditate. Enjoy life. Live. Stop rushing to “do” for everyone else and take time out for yourself: relax, relate, and release. Live your life with a purpose.

God bless

By Susie Galvez

“Too much of a good thing is wonderful.” —Mae West

cheduling private time on a daily basis is what the good life is all about. The coveted “alone-time” is a great way to rediscover your wonderful uniqueness. Here are my top ten ways to enjoy being yourself – by yourself. Nature Calls. Experience nature by getting out and walking for just 20 minutes. Focus on the scenery, the sounds of nature, and the rhythm of your breathing. Feel your muscles move you forward as you recount all the things for which you are grateful. Keep It Fresh. Keep fresh ﬂowers in your home. It is an easy way to add beauty and bring the refreshing scents of nature inside all year long. Flowers lift the spirit. For about the same amount as a trip to the gourmet coﬀee house, you can give yourself an inexpensive gift that will last all week long. Tea Anyone? As an every afternoon treat, do as the English do and have a ‘spot’ of tea. Green tea is full of healthy antioxidants. Steep in a porcelain teapot and serve in a dainty china cup and saucer; add lemon and even a fruit scone if you would like. Enjoy this age-old ritual! Talent Show. Regardless of what your talent is, it cannot be developed without a clear mind. Your talent is only as good as your health; with good health, you have this time and energy to develop your talent to the fullest.

Accentuate The Positive. Keep a positive attitude. Thinking negatively not only affects your mood and your performance, but shows on your face and in your health in general. Plus, ‘stinking thinking’ affects the people around you, and no one wants to be around a downer – even for a minute! Dear Diary. Keep a daily journal beside your night table. Each night, take a moment and write down your reflections of the day. It is an excellent way to let go, unwind, and allow the day to fade away. As you end the evening journaling, jot down two things that you like about yourself and why. Glam It Up. Make your bedroom your haven. Surround yourself with colorful pillows to lounge on while reading or writing. Keep photos of great experiences around you to remember how much fun life is. Have pretty sheets to sleep on and wear something that makes you feel special. Spray the sheets with lavender to relax, and replace your night table light bulb with a pink tinted one. You will like the way your skin looks. Unplugged. Turn off the Palm Pilot®, computer, answering machine, fax, beeper, and cell phone, and make believe that you have been cast away on a tropical island. See if you can be technology-free for one day. You will find that messages in a bottle work just as well. Keep In Touch. Buy vintage postcards and send them to friends you would normally e-mail or phone. There is something about a personally written note on a lovely postcard that says classic! Be Selfish. At least once a day, do something that is just for you. Don’t feel guilty; remember it is your life – you deserve it! Bonus Good Life Tip: Be Generous. At least twice a day, do something for someone who needs help. You’ll feel extra good if you do it anonymously. ~These tips are from Susie Galvez’s book “Hello Beautiful – 365 ways to be even more beautiful.” MQ Publications, Ltd. 2003. For more information about Susie and her beauty and lifestyle books, log onto www.susiegalvez.com

WOMEN & FINANCE

Money Wise, Financially Fit and Sexy By Sharon Stuart

enjamin Franklin once stated, “[h]e that would have a short Lent, let him borrow money to be repaid at Easter.” This “money wise” comment is still sound advice centuries later. One Sunday morning, I was drinking my coffee and reading the newspaper. Halfway through the paper, I stumbled through the massive advertisements for different sales such as Mother’s Day Sales and Going Out of Business Sales. There were many advertisements offering consumers the opportunity to buy items such as dishwashers, refrigerators, televisions, jewelry and the like with no interest for a year or so. The ads were very enticing, but what the advertisements fail to mention can cost you a great deal of money. For example, my brother and his newlywed wife recently purchased furniture together taking advantage of the no money down and no interest for a year offer. The purchase cost them about $6,000.00. The financing allowed them to put no money down and pay no interest for 12 months. A new beginning, new furniture and a promise for a new life with better furnishings awaited them. They were sure that they could pay the amount off before the 12-month period, thereby avoiding interest payments. So, at month twelve, they were proud that the balance reflected was $20.00. The nightmare began when the following month they received a statement showing a balance owed of $1,460.00. They had miscalculated the months and failed to realize that the interest would not be based on the balance remaining, but rather on the original amount charged. (continued )

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The better way to furnish your home is to purchase on a cash basis. For most of us, however, that is not an option. So, you will need to take a hard look at your budget. Establish what you can afford to pay each month. Build a budget with an amount dedicated to the installment payments to avoid paying too much interest or late fees. Make sure that the budget is not so tight that you are bound to break it. Most computers come equipped with money budgeting software. My husband uses Quicken as the check register. The program allows us to categorize our spending, giving us an invaluable tool to assess where our money is going. I was amazed to realize how much we spent on restaurants, groceries and movies. It was almost a mortgage payment. The information we gleaned from that program sparked us to take a hard look at our spending priorities. There was a great article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch out of Richmond, Virginia on April 27, 2005 titled, “Creditcard advice: ‘Don’t charge it if you eat it, drink it or smoke it’” written by Carol Hazard. The article focused on our youth and emphasized the importance of not taking advantage of obtaining credit cards just because free pizza and a t-shirt are offered as a promotional strategy to hook consumers. It sounds silly, but how often have we been enticed by a 10% discount if we applied for store credit? I was recently offered a savings of $30 if I applied for store credit. I hesitated and thought, “Wow. I could really use that $30.00 towards my son’s birthday gift instead.” I looked at my husband whose eyes were telling me, “no way, honey.” So, we simply passed on the offer. The cashier looked incredulous and visibly could not believe that we were turning it down. To quote Thomas Jefferson: “[n]ever spend your money before you have it.” ~Sharon Choi Stuart is a lawyer with the Boleman Law Firm in Richmond, VA specializing in Bankruptcy Law and Consumer Bankruptcy. Send her an email to scstuart@bolemanlaw.com.

AG 3

Purpose: Seventy Five Percent of The Battle

INSPIRATION CORNER

By Ralph Williams

Life is a constant quest

for balance, peace, and acceptance. Find these three, and all of a sudden, you have virtue and security. Combine the five, and you have a seven-letter word called “purpose.” Seven is the number of completion, and completion is what you are on your way to when you find your purpose. You can never truly be a “ whole” individual until you discover your reason for being or existing. You may come up with something superficial that sounds good, but if it’s not your true purpose, it won’t last. When you discover something, you gain sight or knowledge of something that was previously unseen or unknown. Believe it or not, it was always there even if it was just in a potential state. You ask, what is “Potential state”? This is where you may have a gift for comprehension and speaking that has the potential to manifest itself or culminate into a teacher, counselor, or writer. The potential is there. You just haven’t discovered or uncovered how to put it together.

DNA let’s us know that each of us are unique or different. Psalm 139:14 tells us, “we are fearfully and wonderfully made.” Each of us, individually, is a distinct manner that differs from person to person. God told us in Jeremiah 1:5 that before we were in the womb, “He knew us.” God goes on to state in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has specific plans and thoughts toward each of us. In other words, each person has a different make-up because each one has his own mission or purpose. It’s not something you pick, but something that God has picked for you. The last time I checked, God’s picker was, and still is, better than mine. We run into so many problems when we insist on doing what we want or like to do instead of what we do well. Assess yourself and

put a ﬁnger on the things you do almost eﬀortlessly but don’t pay much attention to: the thing you do that makes other people sometimes ask, “how did you do that”? You reply, “ oh, it’s really nothing.”

Examine yourself and ask the question, “what do I do that is usually a beneﬁt, help, or blessing to a number of people?” There is a great chance that your purpose is right in front of your face. There is a greater chance that once you accept it, you will ﬁnd the peace and meaning in your life that you have always chased but never been able to catch.

[

Unfortunately, the no interest and no money down oﬀer is a common trap for the unwary consumer. The interest is usually very high, and the penalty for not paying the entire balance is costly. The consumer who fails to timely pay is then stuck with a very high interest rate charge and pays far more than the items are actually worth.

AVERAGE GIRL THE MAGAZINE

“If you know what your true purpose is you don’t give up or slack oﬀ when things don’t go your way.”

The defeated enemy fights us tooth and nail to keep us from finding our true purpose because he knows that once we do, he has nothing coming. If I live in Florida and find out that I have something waiting for me in New Hampshire that will fulfill all of my immediate and long term needs, my purpose is to get to New Hampshire. I won’t get discouraged if I get delayed in Virginia because my destination and purpose is to get to New Hampshire. If you know what your true purpose is you don’t give up or slack off when things don’t go your way. Start pressing your way to your purpose today. Prayer is “the can’t miss” way to find out what your purpose is. Who can tell you what you were made for better than the One who made you? Ralph Williams; freelance writer in Richmond, VA.

FEATURES

SPECI A L FE AT U R E SEC T ION

WOMEN & THE LAW

EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION By Cynthia Pasciuto

n a divorce proceeding, there is no guarantee that a client, regardless of the state in which they live, will be granted half of all the marital assets. In the United States, there are two diﬀerent divorce standards. The most common standard used in 41 states is equitable distribution. Equitable distribution states allow for the courts to consider the following: (1) respective age, background and earning ability of the parties; (2) duration of the marriage; (3) the standard of living of the parties during the marriage; (4) what money or property each party brought into the marriage; (5) the present income of the parties; (6) the property acquired during the marriage by either or both parties; (7) the source of the acquisition; (8) the current value and income producing capacity of the property; (9) the debts and liabilities of the parties to the marriage; (10) the present mental and physical health of the parties; (11) the probability of continuing present employment at current earnings or better in the future; (12) eﬀect of distribution of assets on the ability to pay alimony and support; and (13) gifts from one spouse to the other during the marriage. (Painter v. Painter, 65 N.J. 196, 320 A.2d 484 (1973)). Parties who have signed a marital agreement either before or during a marriage will have more control over how the assets will be divided.The other standard is community property; this is the idea that each of the

parties has a right to one-half of the property accumulated during the marriage and imposes fiduciary duties on both spouses as to the handling of marital property during the marriage. Generally, it appears that the higher wage earner will do better in an equitable distribution state, whereas the stay at home spouse will fare better in a community property state. But one thing that remains clear is that equitable distribution will be applied differently depending on the state that the case is tried. Although there are 13 factors the court may choose to look at, it will be left to the discretion of the judge as to which of the factors should be weighed more heavily than others. For example, in the Coburn case, the court looked to see how the wife had been living over the years, and applied the equitable distribution based on the length of the marriage and the standard of living she had grown accustomed to. In Gibbons, the court decided that a marriage is a joint effort, and just because one spouse does

not work for a paycheck, their job as a homemaker and care provider are just as important. Finally, in Havell, the court determined that just because one spouse stays at home it does not automatically guarantee them to half the marital assets if their behavior is seen as so egregious as to place the family in a large degree of harm. So, if you are going to be ﬁling for divorce, check the equitable distribution laws of your state. Sources: Painter v. Painter, 65 N.J. 196, 320 A.2d 484 (1973). (NJ); Havell v. Islam, 301 A.D.2d 339 (N.Y. App. Div., 2002). (NY); Coburn v. Coburn 300 A.D.2d 212, 752 N.Y.S.2d 319 (NY); In re Marriage of Gibbons 194 Or.App. 257, 94 P.3d 879 (OR) Cynthia Pasciuto; law student in Winchester, MA. Amy Solomon, also in Winchester, MA contributed to this article.

MARKET PLACE

See what great ﬁnds the Virginia region has to oﬀer! The “A Work of Art” CD seeks to explore alternatives in the Jazz idiom. Starting with the First selection entitled “Jazz Muse”, the composer alternates an 11/8 time signature with African rhythms and rainsticks. The main features of the work are a contrapuntal bass line and adventurous themes for trumpet, tenor sax and trombone. The song plays a musical pun on the Greek goddesses of the arts and attributes its unique character to inspiration from a Jazz Muse.

To purchase “A Work of Art,” please visit www.soulofvirginia.com AG 4

SPE C I A L F E AT U R E SE C T ION

FRIDAY’S AT SUNSET

FRIDAYS AT SUNSET In 1995,

a charter group of 400 participants gathered at the Shockoe Pavilion for the ﬁrst Fridays at Sunset event. Smooth jazz sounds and light conversation ﬁlled the air, and greeting old friends and meeting new ones quickly became signatures of this weekly summer concert event. In 1997, having outgrown the Shockoe Pavilion, Fridays at Sunset moved to its current location in downtown Richmond’s Kanawha Plaza. The move to 8th and Canal Streets was just one of the changes that Fridays at Sunset underwent. The weekly summer outdoor concert series began to attract national and international musical talent. The beginning of Fridays at Sunset each year is now a signal that spring and summer have arrived in Richmond. The concert series begins in May and runs through August. Although jazz continues to be a staple, Fridays at Sunset has a variety of music including R&B, Jazz and reggae. Fridays at Sunset, from its earliest vision, has provided a venue that would expose residents of Central Virginia to quality contemporary jazz music. A true measure to Fridays at Sunset’s success is that it is now known as an annual music event where participants can go to unwind after a long work week, network with peers and listen to great music.

2005 Schedule

July 1 - Cameo

Aug 5 - Unwrapped & Marcus Johnson

July 8 - Neville Brothers

Aug 12 - Mint Condition

July 15 - Lyfe and Vivian Green

Aug 19 - India Arie

July 22 - Summer Storm featuring:

Aug 26 - Al Green

Peabo Bryson, Norman Brown, Brenda Russell & Everett Harpe July 29 - Maxi Priest

SPECIAL FEATURE SECTION

VISIT

www.fridaysatsunset for more information or call 1-888-301-4102

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

F E AT U R E S

CROOKED ROAD

The Crooked Road Linking Cultures, Spanning Decades M

any tout jazz as a distinctly American art form, brewed from years of mixing eclectic inﬂuences, but few know that Appalachian Virginia boasts her own unique additions to the musical lexicon in America in the forms of country, mountain, bluegrass and old-time music. The Crooked Road aims to preserve the music and culture of the area while obliterating the stereotypes that smother what Appalachian life really means.

Dubbed Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail,

the Crooked Road is a 249-mile driving route through southern Virginia that connects major Appalachian music venues from Clintwood to Ferrum. Through dozens of events that highlight the traditional gospel, country, bluegrass and mountain music of the area, the trail organizers aspire to preserve our cultural heritage and share it with the world, according to Matt Bolas, Executive Director of the Bristol Convention and Visitors Bureau. Since January of 2002, the Crooked Road has employed weekly jam sessions, live radio shows, annual festivals and local classroom

place of Country Music Alliance subscribes this theory. “I think scholars and music enthusiasts are familiar with their contributions,” he says, “but the general public isn’t, and because they don’t see many AfricanAmericans playing today, they might not associate them with that heritage.” Bolas also stresses the importance of education.” Locally, organizers go into schools to teach the history of the music, and when we send out info on the Crooked Road, right up front, we put in information on the history of the music, where it comes from and the inﬂuences. We want to get away from stereotypes.” Bolas is a beneﬁciary of this program. I was born and raised in this area,” he says, “but I’ve learned a whole lot about the community and the music that I thought I already knew.”

long been playing together and exchanging ideas and playing styles. It is important for visitors and residents to know that this melding of diverse cultures is what makes the region so unique and rich in character,” stresses Steve Galyean, Director of Tourism for the Abingdon Convention & Visitors Center. Therefore it is important for everyone to experience and participate in the music as it has had, and continues to have, a signiﬁcant inﬂuence on the music of America.” Not only did the instruments heavily shape the music, but also local black artists closely tied many of the titans of these related genres. Lesley Riddle of Kingsport, (continued on page 26)

Hartley feels it’s the function of organizations like his museum and educational institutions to educate the public. “A lot of cultures come together to form this unique American art form. Part of our mission is to tell the story of the music, and you can’t tell the true story and omit that.”

{By Kenrya M. Rankin}

So, where in this music can a distinct African-American contribution be detected? Hartley says while many may not think of African-Americans because they aren’t a large percentage of the population, they have made a disproportionately large contribution to the music, especially with instrumentation. The inﬂuence on today’s music is manifested in every thing from instruments to rhythms and melodies.

visits to spread the mission of the Crooked Road to the ten local counties, three cities and ten towns along the trail and beyond. So often, mention of Appalachia conjures images of Europeans playing outmoded music on outdated instruments, but to adhere to this stereotype dishonors the roots of this music and discounts the contributions of many cultures, including African-Americans. So why don’t we know about the place of Africans at this table? It seems to be a simple vicious circle, a “Catch-22,” if you will. Lack of education about the music breeds disinterest. Bill Hartley, Executive Director of the Birth 24

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

FEATURES

The influence is seen most significantly in country, bluegrass, rock and soul. All trace their roots back to the banjo, which came to the United States from Africa. Originally called a banjer and made from hollowed gourds and stretched animal skins, these instruments quickly gained popularity in the region, adding African spice to the stew of Scottish, Celtic, Irish, German, Native American, Spanish and Turkish heritage. That introduction spawned what came to be called bluegrass, a variation of the local music that focused on driving rhythmic beats that yanked strings out of what had previously been a mere supporting role and shoved them to the fore. In the 1920s and 30s, Stephen Tarter and Harry Gay further expanded the popularity of the instrument, creating a style that spread throughout the region, catchingon with black and white audiences alike. “This mix of influences is understandable when one realizes that the people of this area have

The Crooked Road: Linking Cultures, Spanning Decades

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

F E AT U R E S

CROOKED ROAD

UVA Athletic Director

Exploring the Crooked Road

According to Holland, this “national respect” for Craig Littlepage is exempliﬁed by the fact that the Men’s Basketball Committee of the NCAA (which he now chairs) considered nominating him for that committee’s membership when he was only a senior associate athletic director at Virginia, (they have never let anyonesit on the group other than a school athletic director or conference commissioner).

eady to learn more about your place in this history? Now is the time to get out there while summer and fall festivals abound. Though there are dozens of sites on the Crooked Road, in a wonderful coincidence (or a perhaps thinly veiled bit of marketing), ﬁve outstanding sites were repeatedly mentioned as the must-see sites for visitors. Each is user-friendly. “If you have an instrument you’re welcome to bring it along, as there are jam sessions all along the road,” Steve Galyean urges. It’s not like a chamber orchestra where you can’t walk up with your bassoon and join in.

See www.crookedroad.org for details. The Blue Ridge Institute & Museum (Ferrum) Aﬃliated with Ferrum College and founded in the early 70s, this facility, dedicated to documenting and sharing the folk heritage of Virginia, is the best bet for a comprehensive education in the culture. The Heritage Archive is a permanent collection of video and audio recordings, including the contributions of black artists. The Farm Museum features costumed interpreters toiling in the day-to-day lifestyle of the German-American homesteaders of the region, and for the past 30 years, the Institute has been host to the annual Blue Ridge Folk Life Festival on the fourth Saturday in October.

The Galax Moose Lodge #733 Old Fiddlers Convention (Galax) Founded in 1935, this convention is the oldest and largest gathering of traditional string artists in the world. Held for six days each August, it attracts more than 50,000 fans from all over the world, and it offers one of the best opportunities on the trail to see the direct contribution of blacks in the area. As Hartley says, “You may not see African-American performers, but there is a definite African-American influence there in the string playing.” Galax is also home to the Blue Ridge Music Center, which features films, exhibits, a listening library and a 3,000-seat outdoor amphitheater.

Carter Family Fold (Hiltons) “Folks have been stopping by every Saturday at 7:30 p.m. since 1974 to watch local and national groups perform on the outdoor stage. It’s probably one of the closest experiences to authentic music possible,” Galyean says, and at just $5 for adults and $1 for children 6 to 11, it’s an incredible bargain. Hartley agrees that this venue allows visitors to see the tradition in its natural environment. Also on the property are a museum and the relocated cabin that was the birthplace of A.P. Carter. The ﬁrst weekend of August, the site hosts the annual two-day Carter Family Traditional Music Festival with performances, mountain crafts and local food.

Tennessee (15 miles from Bristol) is a black guitar player who directly impacted the music of the Carter Family, widely acknowledged as the First Family of Country. He actually traveled with A.P. Carter on song collecting trips on the mountains, making it his duty to remember melodies while Carter committed the lyrics to memory. He also helped Maybelle Carter develop her Carter Scratch style of guitar playing. To this day, many major artists across several genres have pulled or emulated the style of the Carters. And Jimmie Rogers, the Father of Country Music not only favored southern blues, but he learned to play the guitar and to sing from local railroad workers, many of who, were black. Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass Music, learned to play from Arnold Shultz, a black street musician in Racine, Kentucky, and Hank Williams learned his trade from Rufus Tee Tot Payne, another black street musician who he paid for lessons. “All the training I ever had was from him,” Williams once said of Tee Tot. Some of todays African-American superstars have even recorded albums in this vein. Perhaps the most prominent was Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music in 1988. Not to slight Charley Pride, who is

Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center (Clintwood) This site opened in October 2004 to celebrate the career of Ralph Stanley, the inspiration for the movie Brother, Where Art Thou? For $12 ($10 for students and seniors), you can learn about this Grammy winner’s inﬂuence on bluegrass banjo playing. Exhibits detail his roots in Dickenson county, the music that he made with his brother Carter (as The Stanley Brothers) and the many artists who were aﬀected by his music.

“This site details how country was literally born in Bristol,” Galyean says. In August of 1927, talent scout Ralph Peer of Victor Talking Machine Company came to Bristol and made the ﬁrst commercial recordings of country music, an event known as The Big Bang of Country Music. The museum exhibits memorabilia from the founding musicians and hosts the Rhythm & Roots Festival every September, drawing more than 100 national and regional acts. It is also home to Thursday’s live radio broadcast show, Pickin Porch. A new 24,000 square foot facility is slated to open summer 2007, in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of the original country recordings and the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement.

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

It is teamwork and knowing what needs to be done that Littlepage underscores as his best traits. “The role I played on my college basketball team (at the University of Pennsylvania in the mid 70s) is the same role I play here,” he said. “I don’t feel the need to be a star. I was a college center in a college forward’s body on some very good teams. I achieved a level of success using that formula that I don’t have to be the center of attention on whatever activity is going on. I know my strengths.”

unquestionably the most well known black country singer of all time. More blacks are listening to this music than you think. A report in 1993 by the Simmons Research Bureau reported that between six and eight million African-Americans (24-percent of America’s black adult audience) listen to country radio.

Whatever strengths that he self-identiﬁed, it still was not easy for the Ivy-League educated Littlepage to get into the athletic administration mainstream. Barriers had to come down. First he became an assistant coach, and later a head coach at Pennsylvania,his alma mater. There were few role models for black coaches in those days. Fewer still when he decided he wanted to become a full-time athletic administrator.

While Crooked Road organizers have not yet done research on the demographics of visitors, they are aware that minorities have not been coming out in large numbers and are committed to attracting more. Bolas says that they will complete a study in 2006 that will show “where we are and what we can do better in terms of appealing to minority interests.” What better way to grab their attention than to visit and give feedback?

Kenrya M. Rankin is a New York City-based writer who has penned several articles for Soul of Virginia, including interviews with Rex Ellis and Ramona Austin.

FEATURES

When Craig Littlepage first came to Charlottesville and the University of Virginia, in 1976, it was a different place for an African-American. Many viewed it as having a reputation for exclusion. In fact, They did not accept female students until 1970. When Littlepage came there to coach in 1976, there was little diversity and few black folks with whom to connect. It is his mentorship of other young AfricanAmericans that helps drive Craig Littlepage today. You can feel his passion when he talks about how teenage son said he would like to follow in his footsteps and run his own program some day. Littlepage’s voice cracks when he says, “What if I hadn’t had this opportunity to make it in collegiate athletics administration, would he or other young men feel like they could have a chance to do this too?” Littlepage is again on the front end of making history in Charlottesville. He lead the discussion that ended up with the hiring of Dave Leitao, Virginia’s first African-American head coach in not only basketball, but any sport at the university. Bruce Twyman is a freelance writer based in Richmond, Virginia

CRAIG LITTLEPAGE CAREER IN ATHLETICS

In the words of Bolas, to talk about this music you have to include all the cultures.This is everyone’s history and heritage. So get out there, explore and add to the conversation.

Birthplace of Country Music Museum (Bristol)

Craig Littlepage (continued from page 14)

The Crooked Road: Linking Cultures, Spanning Decades

Assistant basketball coach at the University of Villanova, 1973 Assistant basketball coach at Yale University, 1975-1976 Assistant basketball coach at the University of Virginia, 1976-1982 Head basketball coach at the University of Pennsylvania, 1982-85 Head basketball coach at Rutgers

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

F E AT U R E S { ROU T E S }

[

ROUTES IN VIRGINIA

University of Virginia? Take Route 29 towards Charlottesville… Civil War battle sites? Take Route 29 to Route 64… Appalachian Mountains?

enton… Stay on Route 29 until you reach Warr

Route

The Vital Connection to All of Virginia By Mamie Moore , you’re likely Let’s face it! If you’re traveling in Virginia er. But did to get on Route 29 at one time or anoth ing on is just you know that the road that you’re travel ? as historic as your intended destination Route 29: The Vital Connection To All Of Virginia

irginia’s U.S. Route 29 corridor is the only north-south route through Central Virginia. The corridor begins in Greensboro, North Carolina, and continues north through Danville and Charlottesville, Virginia, to the District of Columbia. All of Route 29 in Virginia is four lanes or greater, except for a short section in Manassas Battlefield. As the major artery for many small cities and rural towns throughout Virginia, Route 29 is a vital link to population and economic centers throughout the state and beyond. But this is no news to Virginia. Virginia’s transportation system has been shaping the patterns of economic growth since the colonial days! Similar to the rings of an aging tree, the 254 miles of curves and dips helps to tell the story of the historic corridor. Today, the corridor is comprised of an amalgam of highways, freeways, city streets, and connecting roadways; however, it began as a route for stagecoaches. Historic sites that served as stagecoach stops still remain throughout the state such as the Southwest Blue Ridge Highlands located in Newbern. Although Route 29 was an original U.S. Highway, it didn’t come to Virginia until 1932, and it wasn’t extended to Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. until 1934. As Route 29 grew, the corridor started to be known by many different names. The entire route is named in honor of the celebrated 29th Infantry Division. The land, which lies roughly along Routes 29 and 15, is known as The Settlement,” one of the most significant and most stable black communities in Virginia. The highway is known as the Seminole Trail from Danville to Warrenton. From Warrenton to Washington, D.C., Route 29 is part of Lee Highway, named after former Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Route 29 also shares the James Madison Highway. Regardless of the name, the historic route is known mostly for the diverse offerings that it provides. Regions along Route 29 are great sources for culture, history, entertainment and hospitality. Counties and cities through which the corridor passes contain 25 percent of the state’s population, and a great deal of tourism income. Route 29 travels through the Roanoke, Rapidan, Rappahannock , Rivanna, and James River as well as a number of cities. Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

F E AT U R E S { ROU T E S }

ROUTES IN VIRGINIA

Outside of Washington, D.C., Route 29 then passes through Arlington, Fairfax, and Manassas—well known for the 1861 and 1862 Battles of Manassas. As Route 29 passes through D.C.’s Virginia suburbs, it heads through farm country, an area well-known for dairying, breeding and training horses, and fox hunting. Traveling further south, Route 29 meets the cities of Warrenton and Culpeper. South of Culpeper, the highway passes through the middle Piedmont, through apple orchards, farms, and tobacco ﬁelds. Route 29 ultimately reaches Charlottesville—home to the historic Mount Zion Baptist Church, created by both free and enslaved African- American Baptists in 1864. Route 29 continues through the Blue Ridge until it reaches the apple and peach orchards of South Piedmont. As the highway continues, it meets the cities of Monroe, Madison Heights, and Lynchburg—the home of the historic Old City Cemetery, the only cemetery open to African-Americans until 1885. The last stretch of Virginia’s Route 29 travels through Gretna, Chatham, and ultimately, the City of Danville, historically signiﬁcant because of its involvement in the Revolutionary War, Civil War and Industrial Era, but also known as a major producer of furniture and shoes.

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

Route 29 has much to oﬀer, both on and oﬀ the road. The rich history of the highway is woven throughout the tapestries of the histories of the cities and towns that it touches. The corridor has proven to serve as a vital connection to all of Virginia. The next time you’re traveling through Virginia, get on Route 29 and explore where it leads you!

Tourist Attractions off of Route

Manassas:The beautiful City of Manassas is well known for the Ben Lomond Historic Civil War Site. The city is also home to the Quantico National Cemetery, Manassas National Battleﬁeld Park, James and Marion Payne Railroad Heritage Gallery, and Hopkins Candy Factory & Urban Archaeological site. For more information on your trip to Manassas, visit http://www.manassascity.org. Bedford: Bedford is truly a place of discoveries! In addition to the town’s noteworthy historic district, part of the National Register of Historic places, the town is widely known for The National D-day Memorial Museum and the Booker T. Washington National Memorial. For more information, visit Bedford City & County Dept. of Tourism at, www.co.bedford.va.us.

Route 29: The Vital Connection To All of Virginia

Culpeper: One of America’s top 10 small towns, Culpeper is known for its historic downtown area and wineries, and is often referred to as horse country. A trip down the town’s popular main strip is like a drive through history. For more information, visit Culpeper’s Department of Tourism at www.visitculpeperva.com. Charlottesville: Once home to former Presidents Thomas Jeﬀerson and James Madison, Charlottesville has grown to a historic city with a growing cosmopolitan center. The city has many presidential landmarks, but is also known for the Prince Michelle Vineyard, Booker T. Washington National Monument, and the Michie Tavern, a former Virginia stagecoach stop. For more information, visit www. incharlottesville.com. Lynchburg: Known for its Legacy Museum of African American History, The Academy of Fine Arts, and the Lynchburg Museum/ Old Court House, Lynchburg provides the entire family with fun-ﬁlled activities all year long. For More information, visit Lynchburg Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau at http://www.discoverlynchburg.org.

Danville: Danville’s Midtown Market is one of Virginia’s most prominent historic business districts. Known historically for its furniture and shoes, Danville oﬀers the visitor a wide variety of shopping experiences, including the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History, Tomahawk Mill Vineyard, and the Virginia International Raceway. For more information about your trip to Danville, visit http://www. visitdanville.com. Mamie Moore is a PR professional and freelance writer based in Alexandria, Virginia

Route

9 2 on the map!

F E AT U R E S

VIRGINIA’S NEW CONVENTION CENTERS

ave you ever attended a large conference or convention on the other side of the country and longed for cities in your home state that could host these types of aﬀairs? If you answered yes, get ready to pitch Virginia to your business, family reunion organizing committee or professional organization. “Virginia is for lovers” is the state’s mantra and now the statement can be applied to meeting and convention planners as well. Virginia has always been a tourist destination. With historic locations such as Jamestown – the birthplace of our nation the majestic beauty of the Shenandoah Valley, the phenomenal Luray Caverns, Natural Bridge, the beaches of Virginia Beach and other historic sites, Virginia gets a large share of the nation’s tourism dollars. With several new convention centers coming online this year, Virginia is poised to take an even larger revenue share of the convention business.

VIRGINIA’S NEW

[CONVENTION CENTERS] Virginia enhances its role in the tourism and convention business with the addition of new convention centers. By Sharon Riddick Hoggard 32

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

Grant-DiVenuti said that the timing was right for Hampton to build a true convention center. “Hampton had already been working in the meetings and conventions markets for some time. We had experienced a good degree of success based on the facilities that existed then in Hampton. With the increased capacity, Hampton would be competitive in the market place. In addition, our consultants for the project, Economic Research Associates stated that Virginia was terribly underserved in the convention meeting facilities arena.”

The newest addition to Virginia’s list of convention centers is the Hampton Roads Convention Center (HRCC). Located in the center of it all, the HRCC is located in the bustling Coliseum Central retail district. The Center is 344,000 square feet and boasts an exhibition hall of 108,000 square feet with 35 meeting spaces. Sallie Grant-DiVenuti, executive director for the Hampton Convention and Visitor Bureau, said, “The structure itself is part of a larger campus setting called the Crossroads.” The campus includes the iconic Hampton Coliseum, the new 295 all suite Embassy Suites and will also include additional retail and other businesses that are under development.

Virginia’s New Convention Centers

For more information or to book your next meeting, contact the Hampton Roads Convention Center on their website at www. hamptoncvb.com.

Hampton Convention Center

Across the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Beach has recently invested $300 million inplanned and completed resort improvements according to Pam Lingle with the city’s convention and visitors bureau. The Virginia Beach Convention Center is getting some major work completed at the tune of $202.5 million. The convention center will oﬀer more than 500,000 square feet of ﬂexible meeting space. Lingle said, “The new convention center is already drawing attention of major groups and associations. The America Bus Association recently announced they will hold their 2008 national convention in Virginia Beach. In 2012, Virginia Beach will host the U.S. National Conference of Aglow International, which will bring approximately 4,000 attendees to the city.”

The HRCC is a spectacular piece of architecture featuring a white sail-like canopy. “The architecture is modern retro with the most distinguishing exterior features being the white canopy at the front entrance and the series of fountains leading up to the front door,” said Grant-DiVenuti. The construction took 20 months and the center oﬃcially opened on May 1. She also noted that the center was designed to meet the high-tech needs of the prospective customers, and planners have addressed the security needs of the region’s military. Some amenities featured in the new HRCC include: full service gourmet catering services; concierge services; business center; outdoor terrace; outdoor exhibit place and cyber café. Additionally, the city is developing 200,000 square feet of space for retail shops and dining.

The design architect for the HRCC was the Washington, D.C.-based ﬁrm of HOK, P.C. and W.M. Jordan Company of Newport News, Va. The center was built at an estimated cost of $90 million including public parking lots, roadways and other site improvements.

Greater Richmond Convention Center

Conference center amenities include the latest in wired and wireless communication technologies, a “porch-like” venue for an outdoor experience, state-of-the-art 31,029foot ballroom, high-tech boardroom, and VIP lounge located in the tower. “A 10story observation deck will allow visitors the Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

F E AT U R E S

VIRGINIA’S NEW CONVENTION CENTERS

L I T E R A RY { T U R N I NG T H E PAG E S }

The Sandwich Generation: A Bittersweet Burden

opportunity to view the inviting skyline of the oceanfront as well as observe the incredible airmastery of the F/A-18 Super Hornets based at the Naval Air Station Oceana,” said Lingle. The new convention center will replace the old Virginia Beach Pavilion Convention Center, which was built in 1980. “Almost from the beginning, some people said it was too small. Local and regional events and activities have outgrown the old facility that serves a population that has grown by almost 200,000 since it opened,” she added.

By Kerry Hook

Construction on the new and improved Virginia Beach Convention Center began in July of 2003. City officials plan to open the first phase of the project this August and hold a grand opening in early 2007. Lingle also noted that the economic impact of the new convention center would be $97 million in sales, $34. 4 million in income, and $2.1 million in tax revenues. The total cost for the facility will be $202,571,000. Virginia Beach’s tourism business is brisk with more than 2.8 million out-of-town visitors, $785 million in visitor spending and $1.6 billion economic impact on the region in 2004. For more information about the Virginia Beach Convention Center or to book your upcoming meeting, visit their website at www.vbgov.com/vbcc. The Greater Richmond Convention Center is a massive structure with 700,000 square feet of space. Interior accommodations include 178,000 square feet of exhibit space, 30,550 square foot ballroom and 32 meeting rooms. The Richmond Convention Center is so large that you could fit four football fields in its space. Located in the heart of the capital city, the convention center is just a few minutes from the Richmond International Airport. The facility has parking space for 1,540 vehicles and nearly 4,600 additional parking spaces are located in close proximity to the conference center. The Greater Richmond Convention Center is a regional facility built in cooperation with the City of Richmond and the surrounding counties of Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover. It is also owned by the Greater Richmond Convention Center Authority, which is made up of these municipalitiesand the Retail Merchants Association of Greater Richmond. Besides a cyber café in the center, the Greater Richmond Convention Center has a com34

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

Hampton Convention Center

prehensive business center. The Wachovia Business Center, operated by the city’s Printing and Mailing Services Department, offers meeting planners and business people a host of services including: graphics; layout and design; pre-press services; packaging; shipping and delivery services; state-of-the-art digital copy services; individual PC workstations; fax services; and curbside drop boxes for UPS, FEDEX and Airborne Express. Visitors can leave the office and still take care of business. For more information or to book your next convention, contact the Greater Richmond Convention Center via their website at www.richmondva.org. Serving northern Virginia and Washington, D. C. area is a jewel of convention centers – the 2.3 million square foot Washington Convention Center. The convention center is located in the center of the nation’s capital in walking distance of major museums, fine restaurants, historic sites and other attractions. The center’s façade is constructed of granite, limestone and a 100-foot curved glass entryway. The center opened in March 2003 Among its many amenities include:

The Washington Convention Center’s ballroom also oﬀers visitors spectacular views of the capital city, including the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument. The city’s tourism arm, the Washington, D.C. Convention and Tourism Corporation (WCTC), has a member network of more than 1,000 businesses. Through this network, the WCTC helps visitors with a host of conventions services from accounting to word processing. Upcoming events include: the Daimler Chrysler Partnership with America; the 2005 Defense Medical Conference; Environmental Solutions to Obesity in America’s Youth; For Sisters Only; the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington Awards Banquet; and the Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner 40th Anniversary Gala. For more information on the Washington Convention Center or to book your next aﬀair, visit their website at www.dcconvention.com. Sharon Riddick Hoggard is a freelance writer in Portsmouth, Virginia.

More than 700,000 square feet of exhibit space; 125,000 square feet of meeting space; Nearly 70 meeting rooms; 52,000 square foot ballroom;

t has been said that many women in their 30s and 40s can be thought of as the “sandwich generation.” That is not because we are busy making lunches for our kids, but rather because we find ourselves sandwiched between the caregiving needs of our young children and our aging parents. So many women live on the brink of exhaustion because they are struggling to balance the competing needs of both their parents and children. Many women are cast in this role willingly—after all we are nurturers. Caring for our kids comes naturally. Caring for our elderly parents, however, is a role reversal that feels less natural, but yet we still do it. Is it our sense of obligation—a sense of debt for all that was done for us—that drives us to carry this bittersweet burden? In so many ways, I do feel a debt to my mom. So much of what I am—of who I am—I owe to her. She taught me many life lessons that developed my sense of humanity. It was her way of being that taught me honor and integrity. She taught me to value others and see the humanity in them even when it was difficult to do so. One very memorable lesson came when I was 12. We had been purchasing Christmas gifts for school. I happily told her about the friends and teachers I thought should get a gift, but deliberately left out the librarian. He was a cranky old man—a real curmudgeon. Everyone was afraid of him. He ran the library with an iron fist; no one dared cross him. My mother thought I should buy him a gift also, but I protested. By my calculations, I figured he really didn’t “deserve” a gift. While my mom’s words were compelling, I remained doubtful and reluctant, but we bought him a gift anyway,. We wrapped it with great care and deliberation. My plan was to take the present and drop it off while the librarian was too distracted tonotice. I had hoped to sneak up to his desk, drop it there and bolt out as quickly as pos-

44,000 square feet restaurant and retail space; Nearly 60 enclosed freight docks; and its own Metrorail subway station. Virginia’s New Convention Centers

sible without running (because, after all, running wasn’t allowed in the library and I really didn’t want to incur his wrath). Unfortunately, he “caught” me. He snarled, and barked at me, “What are you doing?” I stopped in my tracks, shaking in fear. I meekly brought the gift from behind my back and held it out for him to take. He glanced at me, then at the gift, and then back at me again. Then I saw it. Quite unexpectedly, he began to tremble. Tears started to well up in his eyes as his frail, thin hands—still trembling—reached out to take the small gift. I stood in disbelief. The shock of seeing him suddenly so vulnerable left me frozen! I stood stunned, brieﬂy feeling suspended in time. When I had argued so strongly that he was too grouchy to deserve a gift, my mother had said simply, and wisely that he—above all the others—needed the gift most of all. Now I can see just how right she had been. I never forgot that lesson. It is just one of many stories that I tell my daughter. My daughter recently told me she thought that grandma was “just about the nicest person on the planet.” I, too, have always thought very highly of my mother. She is a very intelligent, kind and compassionate woman. She is a true Christian, even though she never set foot in a church when I was growing up. She taught us the very best of Christian values by showing us how to treat others. She is almost 80 years old now, and so her days are dwindling. Now that i am taking care of my mother, I understand what a heavy burden it can be for women of the “sandwich generation”. I have watched many of my friends run ragged as they try to care for both their children and their aging parents. I know it is exhausting to be stuck in such a sandwich; and yet it is a bittersweet sandwich that I would savor, if only I could. Kerry Hook is a freelance writer and single mom.

The Sandwich Generation: A Bittersweet Burden

SPOT L IGH T { I N T E RV I E W }

ISC Finalist

ASHBY ANDERSON By Arlene Williams

ollowing in the footsteps of jazz pioneers Duke Ellington and Miles Davis, a

Richmond-born jazz composer has himself received international recognition. Ashby Anderson’s musical composition “Culture of a City” has been given a ﬁnalist position in this year’s International Song Competition’s (ISC) Jazz Category. His composition was selected from over 11,000 entries from various countries. Involved in music composition for the past 19 years, the musical wizard has opened at concerts for the likes of Regina Belle and has performed with musicians Lonnie Liston Smith and Kevin Christopher Teasely. Anderson discussed how he was inspired to create the musical selection which has received worldwide attention. “I was inspired to write ‘Culture of a City’ while I was watching a Congo player perform on the streets of New York City,” said Anderson. “Other inspiration came from Richmond, VA, Philadelphia, PA, and Washington, D.C.” Through the song, the jazz connoisseur says he gives an aural impression of a busy city landscape. Anderson combined the similar sounds, culture, and feel of each city into his intriguing piece. Mirroring the fast-paced, energetic, rambunctious aspects of city life, the composition, with its blaring trumpet solos and staccato piano melody, has a bright and brilliant tonal quality that sets it apart from others. Anderson’s unique style even got the attention of the ISC’s director Candace Avery. “He is a very accomplished songwriter/pianist,” said Avery. “His unique usage of melodic patterns is very interesting.” The skilled musician admits that he has been in love with music all his life, but received formal training at Morehouse College in Georgia and Virginia Union University in Richmond. (continued on page 36) Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

OP-E D

DOMINION’S POWERHOUSE

B ACK PAG E

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE SALUTES

Dominion’s Powerhouse: Craig Ivey

By Arlene Williams

Workers and Dominion’s Employee Diversity Councils, he is involved in discussions on diversity and company values.

dentifying himself as a “beacon for those who follow,” this year’s Black Engineer of the Year, Craig Ivey, shines as a testament of hard work and discipline. Ivey was born the sixth of eight children in a single parent home and learned the values of hard work from his mother, Ida Ivey. Ida worked as a short-order cook to single-handedly support her family, rising before dawn everyday to begin work at 5:30 a.m. Her son Craig follows in her footsteps and clocks twelve–hour days at a Fortune 200 Energy company. As Vice President for Electric Operations at Dominion, Ivey is credited for his ‘quarterback role’ in the recovery of power lost to millions in the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel last year. Not only is Ivey concerned about the smooth ﬂow of operations at Dominion, he also works hard to strengthen the relationship between his company and its employees. Through the International Brotherhood of Electrical

For this honorable black engineer, success did not come overnight. He started out at Dominion twenty years ago as a seasonal engineering intern while attending North Carolina State University. Upon graduation, Ivey was employed as an associate engineer and then worked his way up to supervisor, then to manager and director, until he reached his present position as Vice President. Ivey has remained loyal and dedicated to his company and industry. “I grew up in a place where poverty and racism were apparent at every turn,” said Ivey. “[There were] lots of mothers, few fathers.” Despite the negative forces around, Ivey maintained excellent grades [in] high school while bagging groceries at a local supermarket for 30 to 35 hours a week. He excelled academically, becoming the ﬁrst African–American to be inducted into the National Honor Society at Roanoke Rapids High School. Ivey continued his road to success by earning an academic scholarship to attend North Carolina

(continued from page 35) Dr. Weldon Hill, one of Anderson’s professors at VUU, spoke highly of his former student. “Ashby exhibited a work ethic that was a shining example for other students in the Music Department. “He spent his every spare moment in the practice room, working methodically on piano technique, his own compositions.” Hard work and determination are trademarks of Anderson’s career, exhibited by his daily study of music theory and music composition. The one-year duration spent in constructing “Culture of a City” attests to his tenacity as an artist. When the musical legend is not busy composing and performing, he passes on his passion for music to young kids as an elementary school teacher in the Richmond Public School System. Apart from nurturing future musicians, Anderson established the Jazz Composers Alliance (JCA). One of the missions of 36

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

the JCA is to “bring Jazz back to the community through educational outreach concerts, family-oriented performances and classic nightclub engagements.” In the meantime, the musical great is working hard to complete his latest music project “A Work of Art,” which contains the “Culture of a City” track and is due for release in April of this year. With such a host of past achievements, Anderson hopes to add winning ﬁrst place in the ISC competition to his list. The winner of this competitive musical contest will receive $10,000 cash, plus a home recording studio, among other prizes, all of which could go a long way in orchestrating Anderson’s musical success. Arlene Williams also wrote Unearthing Shockoe Bottom in the Spring 2005 issue of Soul of Virginia.

DMBE SPOTLIGHT

Featured Entrepreneur Randall Eley

State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Not only is he dedicated to his career and community, but he is a devoted husband and father of three. Ivey also assists in organizing an annual family reunion named after his great- great grandmother, Susan Hockaday Ivey. This accomplished executive continues to expand his knowledge of leadership skills through enrollment in programs involving executive business, negotiations, and customer operations at Harvard University and other distinguished institutions.

From Law to Wall:

A Virginia Entrepreneur’s Passion Leads from Law to Investing

In receiving his award at the Black Engineer Awards Gala at the Baltimore Convention Center in February, Ivy summed up his success in the following way:

“Success is more about the example you create for others than what you achieve for yourself.” Arlene Williams is a freelance writer based in Richmond, Virginia.

Mosquito Remedy Pass this on to anyone who likes sitting out in the evening or when they’re having a cookout. So you don’t like those pesky mosquitoes, especially now that they have the potential to carry the West Nile Virus? Here’s a tip that was given at a recent gardening forum. Put some water in a white dinner plate and add a couple drops of Lemon Fresh Joy dish detergent. Set the dish on your porch, patio, or other outdoor area. No one knows what attracts them the lemon smell, the white plate color, but mosquitoes ﬂock to it and drop dead shortly after drinking the Lemon Fresh Joy/water mixture, and usually within 10 feet of the plate. Check this out---it works just super may seem trivial, but it might help control mosquitoes around your home, especially in the South and elsewhere where the West Nile virus is reaching epidemic proportions in mosquitoes, birds, and humans.

Pass it on! Dominion’s Powerhouse: Craig Ivey

By Stacy Brooks

irginia native Randall Eley does not let money lie dead. Instead, he has spent the last twenty years making it grow – into an institutional investment ﬁrm with nearly $2 billion in assets.

His company has a solid reputation in Virginia and in the entire industry. It has found itself on the Nelson Information, Inc.’s. “World’s Best Money Managers” list and held the top performing position twice on this list.

Randall Eley, Norfolk, Virginia native and long-time resident of the Northern Virginia area, is the founder and president of the Edgar Lomax Company, an investment firm based in Springfield, Virginia. With his love for the business of stocks, bonds and investing, Eley left a successful law career to start this institutional investment advisory firm named after his late grandfather.

As the company has experienced remarkable growth, so has Eley. He is a two-time winner of The Wall Street Journal’s “dartboard” stock picking contest and was proﬁled for publications including, The New York Times and Fortune Magazine.

Founded in 1986, the Edgar Lomax Company provides asset management services to a number of individuals but focuses its core business on servicing large institutional investors, including the State of Maryland and City of Detroit.

And this is just his second career. Prior to this entrepreneurial endeavor, Eley spent ten years as a bond lawyer for the Omaha, Nebraska-based ﬁrm, Kutak Rock. “I loved both careers,” Eley explains. “Once out of law school, I was very excited about investing in stocks,” he added.

The company’s objective is to provide longterm growth through capital appreciation and dividend income. They accomplish this via The Edgar Lomax Value Fund, which invests primarily in large-cap, well-recognized companies from the S&P 500, which they believe to be undervalued.

Eley graduated from Yale University with a B.A. degree in Political Science and received his J.D. degree from the Universityof Chicago Law School. For Eley, money management and entrepreneurship was instilled at a young age.

He is an industry expert who has appeared on CNN, CNBC, and Wall Street Week.

“You gotta do it because you love it,” he said. while his father always encouraged businesses ownership. When he is not making money grow, Eley volunteers time for two Virginia educational institutions. He serves on the Board of Visitors of the University of Mary Washington and is a trustee emeritus on the Board of Trustees for the Endowment Association of the College of William and Mary, both in Virginia. The Edgar Lomax Company Investment Advisory Firm 6564 Loisdale Ct., Suite 310 Springﬁeld, VA 22150 703-719-0026 www.edgarlomax.com Stacy Brooks wrote Lynchburg Legacy in the Spring 2005 issue of Soul of Virginia.

His mother taught him the beneﬁts of saving,

Program Sponsored by the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise . Executive Director Ed L. Hamm Jr. 9th Street Ofﬁce Building, 11th Floor, Richmond, Virginia 23219 . www.dmbe.state.va.us DMBE SPOTLIGHT

Randall Eley: From Law to Wall

Soul of Virginia . SUMMER 2005

Fall 2005

Articles inside

Highlights from the Richmond Urban League